Diabetes: diagnostic criteria: practice question

A General Medicine question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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General Medicine · Diabetes: diagnostic criteria

Sample item

An obese 45-year-old has an HbA1c of 6.7% on two separate occasions. What is the diagnosis?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

C. Diabetes mellitus

An HbA1c of 6.5% or more, confirmed on repeat testing, diagnoses diabetes mellitus. Other criteria are fasting glucose of 126 mg/dL or more, 2-hour glucose of 200 mg/dL or more after 75 g, or random glucose of 200 with symptoms. Prediabetes corresponds to an HbA1c of 5.7 to 6.4%.

Option by option

  • A. Normal glycaemia

    Normal HbA1c is below 5.7%.

  • B. Prediabetes

    Prediabetes applies to HbA1c from 5.7 to 6.4%.

  • C. Diabetes mellitus (correct)

    Correct. Two HbA1c values of 6.5% or more establish diabetes.

  • D. Gestational diabetes

    Gestational diabetes refers to glucose intolerance first detected in pregnancy.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

More General Medicine questions

Questions about this General Medicine question

What is the answer to this General Medicine question?

The best answer is C, Diabetes mellitus. An HbA1c of 6.

Why is "Normal glycaemia" not the answer?

Normal HbA1c is below 5.7%.

Why is "Prediabetes" not the answer?

Prediabetes applies to HbA1c from 5.7 to 6.4%.

Why is "Gestational diabetes" not the answer?

Gestational diabetes refers to glucose intolerance first detected in pregnancy.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Diabetes: diagnostic criteria in General Medicine. 5% or more, confirmed on repeat testing, diagnoses diabetes mellitus. Other criteria are fasting glucose of 126 mg/dL or more, 2-hour glucose of 200 mg/dL or more after 75 g, or random glucose of 200 with symptoms. Prediabetes corresponds to an HbA1c of 5.7 to 6.4%.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Diabetes: diagnostic criteria?

For each disease know the classic presentation, the best test, and the first-line treatment. Then use the flashcards and the other General Medicine questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.